Man Involved In Past Standoff Barricades Himself Again

GRANBY — What began as a report of a possible burglary Wednesday night ended when police apprehended an armed man who barricaded himself in a Mountain Road house and kept policeat bay for four hours.

Police were dispatched at 9:30 p.m. to 285 Mountain Road and found the two tenants at the house arguing, Police Chief Jeremiah Marron said. While trying to settle that squabble, the officers recognized a friend of one tenant, Brian Chudzinski. Chudzinski was involved in a police standoff at his Salmon Brook Street home eight years ago, Marron said.

``He's very volatile. He's capable of anything,'' he said.

Police tried to arrest Chudzinski, for whom they had an outstanding warrant. Instead, Chudzinski closed himself in a rear bedroom of the house and armed himselfwith screwdrivers and knives that were in the room, Marron said.

Marron said Chudzinski appeared to have been drinking when police arrived and continued to drink while barricaded in his room. Officers using binoculars observed him from outside for four hours as he drank himself to a stage in which he appeared to pass out. Police then entered the bedroom and apprehended Chudzinski.

No injuries were reported.

Chudzinski, 40, of 117 Salmon Brook St., Granby, was charged with threatening, first-degree criminal trespass, breach of peace and interfering with an officer. He was arraigned Wednesday morning and released on a $5,000 bond for a July 2 court date in Enfield Superior Court.

Chudzinski was arrested in 1990, leading police on a chase through three towns, then barricading himself inside his home with his mother and stepfather, firing shots at local and state police. In that instance, he was apprehended after a five-hour standoff.

While police were trying to apprehend Chudzinski, the two Mountain Road tenants were arrested on unrelated charges. John Tepper, 38, was charged with threatening. Mary Ellen Burns, 39, was charged with interfering with an officer and illegal possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.